Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Edinburg, Texas
84.8% Acceptance Rate
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
84.8%Acceptance Rate
3.16Avg GPA
1020Avg SAT
19Avg ACT
$18,343Annual Cost
$49,620Grad Salary
63.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
84.8%
Avg GPA
3.16
Avg SAT
1020
Avg ACT
19
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
910–1110
ACT Middle 50%
16–22
Avg Net Price
$6,500
Need-Based Aid
63.8% receive Pell
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public research university that serves a diverse and vibrant region. Known for its innovative programs, commitment to bilingual education, and focus on regional economic development, the university provides an accessible, high-value education that prepares students for success in a global society.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Acceptance Rate
Admission at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is inclusive by design: 84.8% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 84.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.16 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.96 – 3.15
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.71
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark August 1 for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Regular — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 6 days left — Regular
Regular
August 1
Priority
December 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 15, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
UTRGV GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at UTRGV is 3.16. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.86–3.16 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.36–3.56.UTRGV GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context — leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.16 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.96 – 3.15
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.76 – 2.95
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.75
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Top 10% of Texas high school class = guaranteed admission; all other applicants reviewed holistically on rank, rigor, leadership, and community involvement
- Test scores optional for general admission for 2026-2027, but required for Tuition Advantage/scholarships and for College of Engineering and biomedical program-specific admission
- Admissions essay (Essay A or B) is optional, ~500 words recommended, submitted through Document Central
- Formed in 2013 from the merger of UT Pan American and UT Brownsville; campuses spread across Edinburg, Brownsville, and Harlingen (home to the region's only medical school); one of the largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the country
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at UTRGV
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at UTRGV — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into UTRGV Without SAT or ACT?
UTRGV considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Average SAT Score: 1020
Admitted students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley average a 1020 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1020 — Accessible
A 1020 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1110 SAT or 22 ACT) to stand out. Below average? The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 910? A retake is worth it at UTRGV — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 490 | 440 | 540 |
| SAT Reading | 520 | 470 | 570 |
| SAT Composite | 1020 | 910 | 1110 |
A score under 910 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1110+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) with a 1100 SAT?
At 1100, your SAT is squarely in UTRGV's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) ACT Requirements
UTRGV's admitted students average an ACT of 19.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 19 — Less Competitive
An average of 19 leaves room above it for a competitive application.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 19 | 16 | 21 |
| ACT English | 19 | 15 | 22 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 16 | 22 |
Can I get into The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with a 22 ACT?
At 22, you're in the top quarter of UTRGV's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections — English, Math, Reading, Science — are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, UTRGV weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for UTRGV
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into UTRGV isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Lead with class rank if the student is top 10% - it overrides everything else
Texas's top 10% rule guarantees UTRGV admission outright. If a student qualifies, the application strategy shifts entirely away from building a "competitive" file and toward making sure the rank is documented correctly on the transcript (graduation plan, class size, and rank must be clearly indicated) so the guarantee is triggered without delay.
Submit the optional essay anyway if the student is outside the top 10%
Everyone else goes through holistic review weighing rank, rigor, leadership, and community involvement - and UTRGV's admissions essay (choice of Essay A or B, ~500 words recommended, submitted via Document Central) is optional but gives the file the only narrative content it would otherwise lack. For a borderline holistic case, a missing essay is a missing data point the reviewer has to fill in with assumptions.
Know which campus and program your student is actually choosing
UTRGV was formed in 2013 from the merger of UT Pan American (Edinburg) and UT Brownsville, and still operates major teaching sites roughly 50 miles apart across Edinburg, Brownsville, and Harlingen - home to the region's only medical school. A student choosing a health-sciences or medical-adjacent track should confirm which campus actually hosts their program before assuming "UTRGV" means one location.
Submit SAT/ACT scores if the major requires them, even though the university is test-optional
General admission doesn't require scores, but Tuition Advantage, scholarships, and specific admission to the College of Engineering and biomedical programs do. A student aiming for engineering or pre-med tracks should submit scores regardless of the school's test-optional headline policy.
Expert Insight:
Counselors and families frequently anchor on a single acceptance-rate number pulled from a ranking aggregator - and these vary wildly across sources (some report it in the 90s, others put it as low as the 30s-80s) because of inconsistent methodology. Don't quote a specific rate to a family without checking it against UTRGV's own current admissions page or the Common Data Set; using a stale or mismatched figure undermines credibility fast.
UTRGV Profile
Full Name
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
City
Edinburg
State
Texas
ZIP Code
78539-2999
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a UTRGV Degree Worth It?
At $18,343/year against a $49,620 median graduate salary, UTRGV is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $35,900, and graduates see a 6.28% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from UTRGV Cost?
Listed tuition runs $18,343/year at UTRGV; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $6,500.
At UTRGV, 63.8% receive a Pell Grant and 25.6% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming UTRGV on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a UTRGV Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, UTRGV graduates report a median income of $49,620, about 22% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at UTRGV
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About UTRGV Admissions
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn a lower median salary of $49,620/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is relatively affordable, around $18,343/year.
63.8% of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students receive a Pell Grant — need-based aid you don't repay. File your FAFSA early and list The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as a choice for the best shot at maximum aid.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's acceptance rate is 84.8%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students is 3.16, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.86 puts you in the standard applicant pool at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.76 or below makes admission tougher at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1020, and within the 910–1110 range, keeps you competitive.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's deadline is August 1 (Regular).
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 15, 2026 — that's The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.